SanibelSusan’s island scoop this week includes an update on commercial property. Several on Sanibel are for sale:

• condo with tenant at 1149 Periwinkle Way $700K,
• 2359 Periwinkle Way (former swimwear shop with apartment above) $1.29M,
• 1544 Periwinkle Way (former seashell shop) $1.695M,
• 1020 Periwinkle Way (former site of Sanibel Fresh) $2.55M,
• gas station at corner of Periwinkle Way and Bailey/Beach Rd $3.2M,
• Anchor Inn at 1245 Periwinkle Way $3.5M,
• 1223 Periwinkle Way (former site of Jacaranda restaurant, then Tipsy Turtle) $3.65M,
• 1167 Buttonwood Ln (strip mall plus residential) $5M,
• 362 Periwinkle Way (shopping center) $6.5M,
• 6420 Pine Ave (former site of Lazy Flamingo, Sunset Grill, Santiva General Store,) $15M,
• 3287 West Gulf Dr (formerly Sunset Beach Inn) $23M.

I also heard that the former Dairy Queen location (1046/1048/1090 Periwinkle Way) sale which has been under contingent contract for a few weeks (priced at $1.799M) is now a “solid” sale, awaiting closing. Rumor has it that it probably will not continue as a Dairy Queen franchise but that building will be restored with the intention of continuing as a quick affordable spot to buy lunch. You may remember that behind that area a tree often is home to bald eagles which means no construction noise during their winter nesting season. Exterior work there already is beginning.

For those anxious for more businesses to reopen, I also noticed more activity this week at both Periwinkle Place and Tahitian Gardens shopping centers. Maybe we’ll soon see some re-openings there.

More vacationers and residents are needed for shops/restaurants to be successful. Hopefully the islands will see more visitors over the 3-day weekend beginning tomorrow.

I didn’t notice additional traffic during my island rounds this morning, but Tarpon Bay Explorers has reopened. They are the licensed concession to the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, under contract with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and offer informative tours and eco-friendly recreational opportunities to visitors, Open Mon, Wed, Fri, and Sat from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (rentals stop at 3 p.m.).

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®

Our local Association of Realtors® again didn’t meet this week, but their annual classes continued for members working to earn or recertify their SCIS (Sanibel & Captiva Islands Specialist) designation. Since I also needed to recertify (which requires completing three of 12 class modules), on Wed I both taught the “Resort & Second Homes” module and attended the other Realtor-taught sessions that followed, including Marketing Condos (by David Schuldenfrei & Eric Pfeifer), Waterways & Beaches (by Jeff Burns) and Differences In Selling Off-Island (by Greg Demaras).

Members are lucky that our local Association of Realtors® continually offers education specific to the work we do here. Thanks to our CEO Bill Robinson and his assistant, Jennifer Kelley who made the day go smoothly even with a press conference occurring at the same time at The Community House. (Read more about that below.)

Our next Realtor® Caravan Meeting is Thurs Oct 12 at BIG ARTS, the morning after our annual golf tournament and RPAC Auction at The Sanctuary

It may be a few more months before our Association Office building is ready for occupancy. It is taking a long time to complete storm repairs, like much of the other damaged property here.

Florida’s Local Government Cybersecurity Grant Program

Wed at the Sanibel Community House, Florida Lt Governor Jeanette Nunez announced more cybersecurity funding though the new state Local Government Cybersecurity Grant Program. This money will help after natural disasters like Hurricane Ian when vulnerable Floridians could be exploited. This program was developed to harden infrastructure. It is part of an almost $500M effort that Florida has already invested in detection capabilities, retiring old legacy systems, and setting up the first-ever state Cybersecurity Operations Center.

Last year, the administration allocated $30M, This year, it is looking to increase that to $40M. With an integrated security system, more than 35 state agencies now are collaborating in real time, sharing information, and working with municipalities and other partners, like first responders. Over the last several months, many local government agencies joined the program. In Southwest Florida, those include the City of Sanibel and the Lee County Tax Appraisers Office.

SanibelSusan Realty Associates

While the team and I continue to work from home, this week I quizzed our Sanibel Square landlord for an update on when our office space may be ready for us to return. Thankfully he personally has finally moved back into his home after spending many months in a camper on the property grounds. Unfortunately, the restoration of the commercial spaces is not progressing quickly. There is no defined end-date, so once again, like many displaced Realtor colleagues, we are grateful for today’s technology. From the pandemic until now, we have learned to overcome challenges including successfully working wherever we are.

Island Weather

The weather has been nice so far this week, though there was an unusual hiccup Tues when what I thought looked like heavy morning fog turned out to be smoke from Canada. There were huge delays coming onto the island that morning. the result of FDOT continuing with nighttime causeway paving and lane changes.

I went off-island briefly in the early afternoon, noticing more severe overcast smoggy (actually smoky) skies inland. By the next day, it was back to clear blue skies. That continues today with forecasters saying there is little chance of rain until the middle of next week – then, just a 50% chance. The rainy season is wrapping up!

Causeway Update

Yesterday, the City sent out the following announcement:

“FDOT Announces Sanibel Causeway Construction Update for the Week of 10/5/2023

The City of Sanibel received the following information from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) regarding Causeway construction activities in October and November.

Sanibel Causeway Emergency Restoration: As a part of the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Emergency Restoration of the Sanibel Causeway, crews continue work on McGregor Boulevard and the Sanibel Causeway from Port Comfort Road to Sanibel Island. The causeway islands surrounding the temporary roadway are an active work zone and are currently closed for public access, including from the water.

• Motorists should be aware that through October and November, portions of the travel lanes near the bridges on the Causeway will be narrowed to 10 feet with a one-foot shoulder and barrier wall on each side. Oversized loads will only be permitted during the nighttime/overnight hours with this restriction.
• During the hours of 6:30 am to noon, motorists leaving Sanibel should expect eastbound McGregor Boulevard to be reduced to one lane from just east of the toll plaza to Port Comfort Road. This closed lane will be used as a dedicated lane for concrete delivery trucks arriving to the project. Concrete trucks will be escorted by FHP when using this lane. During this time, motorists traveling to Sanibel should expect FHP to intermittently stop traffic to allow concrete trucks to cross westbound travel lanes to reach the staging area.
• On weekdays, beginning no earlier than 10 am, motorists traveling westbound to Sanibel on McGregor Boulevard should expect the outside lane closed to traffic for crews to install guardrail from Port Comfort Road to the toll plaza.
• Motorists should expect isolated flagging operations on the Causeway. Crews anticipate opening all lanes between the hours of 7 – 9 am and 3 – 5 pm.
• Motorists should expect uneven road surface on the causeway through the end of the year. The contractor continuously monitors road conditions and is prepared to make repairs as needed.
• Crews are relocating utilities along McGregor Boulevard. Motorists are asked to use caution as work activities may be close to the roadway.
• Crews continue driving sheet pile on the causeway islands.
• Motorists should expect numerous dump trucks entering and exiting Punta Rassa. They are delivering armor stone to be used throughout the project.
• Motorists should expect periodic daytime delays for delivery/removal of materials, transfer of equipment, and for crews to remove trash from the roadway.

Many oversized vehicles are crossing the causeway to assist with recovery efforts on the island. Please be patient as travel may be slower than usual. Bicyclists are encouraged to utilize another mode of transportation to travel the causeway and pedestrians are not permitted on the Sanibel Causeway. Expect shoulder closures throughout the project.

MOTORISTS ARE REMINDED TO OBEY THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 20 MPH. Please use caution and watch for workers and construction vehicles entering and leaving the roadway.  For further questions, please contact Jennifer Dorning by email at Jennifer.Dorning@dot.state.fl.us or by phone at (239) 338-7723. Please visit www.swflroads.com/SanibelCauseway for additional information.”

Sundial News

Sanibel Fire & Rescue posted Wed on Facebook that they were happy to be part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Sundial East Condo Association which reopened 141 units to their residents.

Last week, on Sep 28, the resort celebrated a ribbon-cutting for its pickleball facilities. Following the debut of its resurfaced original 12 courts in August, four additional new courts (formerly tennis courts across the street) were added.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Real Estate

With data from the islands MLS (Multiple Listing Service), below are summary tables of the residential sales statistics, followed by the island MLS action this week.

As expected, more condos are coming on the market. We chatted about them during the classes Wed. Colleagues agreed that there likely will be many for sale when owners realize that though it has already been a year, it may not be just a few more months, but perhaps years in some complexes before they are ready for occupancy or rentals. Delays in insurance monies, utilities, permits, parts, and labor continue to slow restoration.

SANIBEL RESIDENTIAL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale:	63	1,075,421	140	73	1,540,054	114	30	920,280	154
Under contract	5	724,800	108	17	1,387,503	89	1	145,000	6
Sold 2023 to 10/6	82	941,013	61	228	1,262,529	69	23	940,021	78
Sold 2022	123	1,136,199	44	185	1,602,745	52	26	779,528	223
Sold 2021	287	875,127	113	355	1,341,881	89	69	698,862	442

 

CAPTIVA RESIDENTIAL	CONDOS			HOMES			LOTS
	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM	#	Avg Price	DOM
For sale	21	1,554,023	105	10	7,687,800	145	2	7,247,500	29
Under contract	1	1,700,000	4	0	N/A	N/A	0	N/A	N/A
Sold 2023 to 10/6	11	848,363	108	17	2,716,647	70	0	N/A	N/A
Sold 2022	28	1,458,983	52	22	5,636,386	133	0	N/A	N/A
Sold 2021	64	1,150,373	145	44	2,988,520	261	2	2,950,000	731

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity Sep 29‑Oct 6

Sanibel

CONDOS

6 new listings: Lighthouse Point #319 2/2 $625K, Sundial #D408 1/1 $649K, Sanibel Inn #3511 2/2 $789K, Sandalfoot #2A2 2/2 $929K, Pointe Santo #C2 2/2 $960K, Loggerhead Cay #513 2/2 $1.295M.

1 price change: Sundial #D203 1/1 now $579.9K.

2 new sales: Seashells #26 2/2 listed at $450K, Spanish Cay #D4 2/2 listed at $579K.

3 closed sales: Colonnades #15 1/1 $274K, Sanibel Siesta #403 2/2 $734K, Wedgewood #206 3/3.5 $2.8M.

HOMES

3 new listings: 653 Sand Castle Rd (1/2 duplex) 3/3.5 $679K, 198 Southwinds Dr 3/2 $1.25M, 1158 Golden Olive Ct 5/5.5 $3.345M.

1 back on market: 9428 Moonlight Dr 3/2 $899K.

7 price changes: 2991 Singing Wind Dr 3/2 now $550K, 1143 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 now $849K, 1011 S Yachtsman Dr 5/2.5 now $1.395M, 924 Kings Crown Dr 4/3 now $1.55M. 915 Limpet Dr 5/3 now $2.039M, 1740 Dixie Beach Blvd 3/2.5 now $2.095M, 4340 West Gulf Dr 5/3.5 now $2.395M.

2 new sales: 1003 Fish Crow Rd 4/4 listed at $1.25M, 4273 West Gulf Dr 5/4.5 listed at $6.9M.

3 closed sales: 9008 Mockingbird Dr 3/3 $1.125M, 1533 Sand Castle Rd 3/2.5 $1.4M, 1352 Eagle Run Dr 3/2.5 $1.49M.

LOTS

2 new listings: 1030 White Ibis Dr $489K, 1757 Windward Way $499K.

1 price change: 2807 West Gulf Dr now $995K.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: 809 Pyrula Ave $535K.

Captiva

CONDOS, HOMES, & LOTS

Nothing to report.

This representation is based in part on data supplied by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service. Neither the association nor its MLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy.  Data maintained by the association, or its MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.  The information provided represents the general real estate activity in the community and does not imply that SanibelSusan Realty Associates is participating or participated in these transactions.

Enjoy the long weekend, including Columbus Day!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan